diff --git a/src/stage/timeline/body-canvas-widget.cpp b/src/stage/timeline/body-canvas-widget.cpp
index 9d0f5e79b..374b041f6 100644
--- a/src/stage/timeline/body-canvas-widget.cpp
+++ b/src/stage/timeline/body-canvas-widget.cpp
@@ -434,8 +434,8 @@ namespace timeline {
       this->pack_start (contentArea_, Gtk::PACK_EXPAND_WIDGET);
       
       contentArea_.set_shadow_type (Gtk::SHADOW_NONE);
-      contentArea_.set_policy (Gtk::POLICY_ALWAYS, Gtk::POLICY_AUTOMATIC);  // always need a horizontal scrollbar
-      contentArea_.property_expand() = true;                               //  dynamically grab additional space
+      contentArea_.set_policy (Gtk::POLICY_ALWAYS, Gtk::POLICY_ALWAYS);  // always use both scrollbars ////////////////TICKET #1208 : 2/2002 Gtk::POLICY_AUTOMATIC hides scrollbar after focus loss 
+      contentArea_.property_expand() = true;                            //  dynamically grab additional space
       contentArea_.add (mainCanvas_);
       
       // realise all initially configured elements....